invacar LightBulbFun's Invacar & general ramble thread, index on page 1, survivors lists on Pages 24/134 & AdgeCutler's Invacar Mk12 Restoration from Page 186 onwards, still harping on...

[mitsisigma01]

How did you get on with finding the Minor owners or a friendly local old chod repairer, from what you have said the only awkward bit is plugging the fuel tank, the rest is fairly straightforward...... Never say that when talking about fixing chod. 

The main problem is locations, costing and time 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

If you're not well enough to head down there alone,  wait until you've passed your driving test. Then you can channel the finances you'd funded lessons with into paying a garage into sorting your car.

[LightBulbFun]

well wasn't expecting this outcome but

REV is now insured! through Bikesure (a part of Adrian flux it seems)

came to £1700 a year, so there goes most of the fund, but it is about what I was expected sadly

iv got 14 days etc to axe it if anyone has objections etc, but I think its pretty "reasonable"

its about what I was expecting assuming I could even find an insurance company that will touch me, so I decided to just go with it

I asked about my licence, she said yeah just let us know when you get your full licence, but it won't affect prices

I also get breakdown cover and key cover with this which is nice 

 

only thing is I did say Model 70 and made it clear Model 70 was part of its name!

but its down as an "INVACARE Model 493cc" on my insurance account thingy LOL

do you think tis worth calling them back about it or should I leave it be?

 

(and if anyone thinks I have made a horrible mistake or something, do let me know!)

[LightBulbFun]

Hmm I was checking the policy document/pdf thing ya get I cant help but notice this!

they never asked me about REV's weight, but she weighs 413Kg,

(and im not even going to get into the not being an invalid carriage part!)

I Feel like I should give them a call back? what do you think?

[mitsisigma01]

Definitely worth correcting it to Invacar as no doubt, even though its their mistake, they would try and not pay out on it. How have other shiters Invacar owners insured their ones . I had similar a problem with my Sigma as they don't know what the fk they are talking about because it wasn't in their book even though it was an official UK  car sold by Mitsubishi 

[mitsisigma01]

By the sound of it yours isn't covered for many reasons... 

[mitsisigma01]

Definitely need to get that sorted, can Mrs6 help? 

[LightBulbFun]

yea calling them!

[LightBulbFun]

ok panic over (hopefully!)

lady on the phone says that's just a generic thing, and it is noted down what it is and the weight etc wont be an issue

I asked if I could have some proof of this so she said he is sending me the "revised documents" over

and hopefully the name gets fixed too!

(I do wonder if I should have saved the quote? if thats possible, and "activated" when I was closer to REV being on the road but I didn't want to complicate things etc! and its a good incentive to get her on the road I think!)

[Out Run]

9 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

the problem with that is its quite a bit of effort just for me to get there and back (and by effort I mean lots of back pain etc)

and so I have to be careful etc with how I do things, so if im going to do something thats takes it out of me regardless, id like to get as much done as possible to get the most out of the pain if that makes sense!

(even with Wingz kind offer I still have to get to a certain location and back)

oh im well aware!  its why im quite nervous about it all etc its not doing my social anxiety any favours!

I know what you mean. I too have back issues. Two bulging discs and I often suffer painful muscle spasms. I am currently under the care of a neurosurgeon and have recently had a second round of facet joint steroid injections. These don’t appear to have worked, this time. So it looks like ryzolysis or disc fusion is next for me.

I’ve just spent 2.5 days bed bound. Been bed bound for weeks at a time, before.

But yeah, when you are having a good day or two, get on the bus and head to Wingz. Get something, anything done. IMO.

Personally, I wouldn’t have insured it, yet... Before you know it, half of your policy - or more - could have lapsed, with the vehicle just sinking into the ground, on someone else’s property.

If it’s now insured, why not get it shifted home and tax it? Then you can dodge outside to tinker with it, as and when. You will be able to know what it needs and get on with it. 
Or when it’s home, find a garage that will do the work. Plenty will be happy to have a go.

[LightBulbFun]

ok goody looks like things have been sorted 

its interesting when calling them and going through it all, from what it sounds like its that its because it has handlebars it counts as a "motorcycle" etc

I wonder what would happen with a steering wheel Model 70? or what about a Tiller bar Model 70 LOL

(finances are quite tight now, but I think I should be able to squeeze through, lets Hope I pass first time! no pressure LOL)

sorry if Im a bit disjointed 

not only is this a big thing for me especially as pretty much everyone said id be screwed insurance wise, and while it has cost a lot, its pretty much in line for someone my age etc if I had a normal car say a K11 micra or such, so I dont think im doing too bad I dont think!

but theres also lots of money flying around, and insurance being the very official and legal thing it is im understandably nervous about it

hopefully I can relax now and just stalk https://ownvehicle.askmid.com/ until she shows up  

[Out Run]

7 hours ago, Wingz123 said:

Offers still there man and as it happens I have to go to Birmingham on Thursday morning only I have to be there for 9am so guessing it would be difficult for you to get to Reading for early o'clock....?

Doable IMO. But I don’t think the lad gets up when the clock still reads AM.  

[barefoot]

You'd be better off bunging the thing into a garage & telling them to get on with it.

That's a far better way to spend £1700 than on insuring a broken vehicle in a field some distance away that you haven't even got a license for yet.

[Zelandeth]

Glad you got the insurance sorted out in the end without too much hassle.

Just make sure you triple check everything as Adrian Flux have a long history of using every trick in the book to wriggle out of paying out.  They also *WILL* try to screw you over and double the price in a year's time when the policy is up for renewal, so put s reminder in your calendar to start shopping around a month or so beforehand as they have a serious habit of "losing" the renewal paperwork.

[LightBulbFun]

12 minutes ago, Out Run said:

I know what you mean. I too have back issues. Two bulging discs and I often suffer painful muscle spasms. I am currently under the care of a neurosurgeon and have recently had a second round of facet joint steroid injections. These don’t appear to have worked, this time. So it looks like ryzolysis or disc fusion is next for me.

I’ve just spent 2.5 days bed bound. Been bed bound for weeks at a time, before.

But yeah, when you are having a good day or two, get on the bus and head to Wingz. Get something, anything done. IMO.

Personally, I wouldn’t have insured it, yet... Before you know it, half of your policy - or more - could have lapsed, with the vehicle just sinking into the ground, on someone else’s property.

If it’s now insured, why not get it shifted home and tax it? Then you can dodge outside to tinker with it, as and when. You will be able to know what it needs and get on with it. 
Or when it’s home, find a garage that will do the work. Plenty will be happy to have a go.

ohh im sorry to hear that, as someone who was bed bound for 6 months in the past I know just how unpleasant it is!

I hope there able to sort your issues out  

Yeah I was thinking that about maybe holding off, but I didn't want to complicate matters etc!

(I know sometimes you can get a quote, then like get a number and hold it until your ready to activate it or such? I guess its a bit late to do that now? although I dont know how that works with my 14 day cancelation thing)

I was just working with the KISS principle! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KISS_principle

yeah I was thinking about dragging her home, but she would currently need to be transported there so thats more expense and it also takes her further away from several skilled shitters 

although those who have been with this thread since the start the original plan, was to have my Model 70 in the dead end with just me slowly picking away at things as my pain tolerance allows etc  

I think the garage idea will currently have to be shelved, I dont quite have the money for it anymore! (I dont think anyways) so ill have to start saving up again in that regard (its not wiped me out completely, but I still have to finish with my driving lessons etc!)

the orignial plan was £1000 for insurance and £1000 for recomissoning, obviously insurance has cost a bit more then £1000 sadly, so recomoisoning fund has taken a bit of a hit, but its not completely down!

1 minute ago, Zelandeth said:

Glad you got the insurance sorted out in the end without too much hassle.

Just make sure you triple check everything as Adrian Flux have a long history of using every trick in the book to wriggle out of paying out.  They also *WILL* try to screw you over and double the price in a year's time when the policy is up for renewal, so put s reminder in your calendar to start shopping around a month or so beforehand as they have a serious habit of "losing" the renewal paperwork.

yeah I was thinking about Flux's reputation etc! its one of the reasons I got very worried and then sorted out the weight and name thing!

so im glad thats been sorted!

[captain_70s]

1 hour ago, LightBulbFun said:

well wasn't expecting this outcome but

REV is now insured! through Bikesure (a part of Adrian flux it seems)

came to £1700 a year, so there goes most of the fund, but it is about what I was expected sadly

iv got 14 days etc to axe it if anyone has objections etc, but I think its pretty "reasonable"

its about what I was expecting assuming I could even find an insurance company that will touch me, so I decided to just go with it

I asked about my licence, she said yeah just let us know when you get your full licence, but it won't affect prices

I also get breakdown cover and key cover with this which is nice 

 

only thing is I did say Model 70 and made it clear Model 70 was part of its name!

but its down as an "INVACARE Model 493cc" on my insurance account thingy LOL

do you think tis worth calling them back about it or should I leave it be?

 

(and if anyone thinks I have made a horrible mistake or something, do let me know!)

Do double check the small print, I almost took out a policy (£150!) on the Acclaim t'other week but it transpired that they'd just assumed it was a 2nd car and I had something else to use as daily transport. Does the body type and vehicle class for the insurance match the details on the V5c? I imagine that'd be their first port of call when it comes to wiggling out of a payout...

Of course for as long as you don't have an accident none of this will matter because it'll simply come up as "insured" on the database and no copper is going to go to the effort of looking all this shit up, but if you get pranged or some scrote burns it out you could well end up shit creek with nay a paddle in sight... I'd also be wary of the whole "oh, your price won't change after you pass your test", I've never known that to be the case as it'll be a significant change to the policy. Although as they seem to think it's a motorcycle I'm unsure as to how it works in it's entirety...

As an aside, why are you insuring it now? Personally I'd use the insurance funds to get the car ready for the road before insuring it, every month you're not actively keeping the car on a public road that insurance money is going straight down the drain... Certainly, in retrospect, I wish I'd not constantly been trying to return the Dolomite to the road asap back when I first got it. If I'd used the money I spent insuring it 7 years ago on actually making it half decent it'd not be sat at the side of the road with no engine and big holes in the bodywork now and I'd probably be a few grand up financially...

[LightBulbFun]

9 minutes ago, captain_70s said:

As an aside, why are you insuring it now? Personally I'd use the insurance funds to get the car ready for the road before insuring it, every month you're not actively keeping the car on a public road that insurance money is going straight down the drain... Certainly, in retrospect, I wish I'd not constantly been trying to return the Dolomite to the road asap back when I first got it. If I'd used the money I spent insuring it 7 years ago on actually making it half decent it'd not be sat at the side of the road with no engine and big holes in the bodywork now and I'd probably be a few grand up financially...

hmm is it possible to roll back my insurance to the initial quote stage and keep it there if that makes any sense?

I dont know if its too late or such, I cant say I have much experience with car or motorbike! insurance 

but on the flip side im also hoping that she wont have to sit around for too much longer!

[Eyersey1234]

Just now, LightBulbFun said:

hmm is it possible to roll back my insurance to the initial quote stage and keep it there if that makes any sense?

I dont know if its too late or such, I cant say I have much experience with car or motorbike! insurance 

but on the flip side im also hoping that she wont have to sit around for too much longer!

As far as I am aware it isn't possible short of cancelling the policy and taking it out again once your test is passed, which would mean you had a cancellation fee to pay. 

[Out Run]

Just now, Eyersey1234 said:

As far as I am aware it isn't possible short of cancelling the policy and taking it out again once your test is passed, which would mean you had a cancellation fee to pay. 

He should be OK, with the 14 day cancellation option? I dunno, I never cancel things like this.

@captain_70s good shout, re the policy price no doubt changing, when a full licence is acquired. That could provide a bit of a shock.

[LightBulbFun]

7 minutes ago, Out Run said:

He should be OK, with the 14 day cancellation option? I dunno, I never cancel things like this.

yeah,

but im a bit worried given how special this quote is, if I cancel it and I have to do it again

I might get another result or something else might go wrong etc!

or can I tell them to pull up the details of the previous quote and go "that please!" 

im just so worried that iv made a huge mistake or something!

I dont like the feeling at all!

[mitsisigma01]

You should be OK with cancelling as it should count as a cooling off period, they should /miht hold your quote for a month, hopefully in that time you can hopefully get her fixed and also try and get a cheaper quote for the insurance, if you don't get her fixed in a month you've lost nothing, if you do get her fixed and have thoroughly searched and asked other owners where they get theirs from, hopefully a company /broker that actually understands what it actually is and also be at the "prime time" for getting insured for the Suffolk field of Dreams. Why it is set at approximately 25 days, fk knows, insurance companies are all robbing bastards and getting a quote for an unusual vehicle is hard work but get many quotes and play one off against another ??

GLWTQuotes

[LightBulbFun]

11 minutes ago, mitsisigma01 said:

You should be OK with cancelling as it should count as a cooling off period, they should /miht hold your quote for a month, hopefully in that time you can hopefully get her fixed and also try and get a cheaper quote for the insurance, if you don't get her fixed in a month you've lost nothing, if you do get her fixed and have thoroughly searched and asked other owners where they get theirs from, hopefully a company /broker that actually understands what it actually is and also be at the "prime time" for getting insured for the Suffolk field of Dreams. Why it is set at approximately 25 days, fk knows, insurance companies are all robbing bastards and getting a quote for an unusual vehicle is hard work but get many quotes and play one off against another ??

GLWTQuotes

yeah, im just worried about losing the quote and having to jump through all those hoops again etc!

I guess I could call them and ask!, iv got 14 days tho so I shouldn't panic too much/quickly about it!

(I also feel a little bad because there was quite a bit of time spent sorting me out, I don't want to then just turn around and cancel it all! LOL)

[LightBulbFun]

alright an idea has been put forward for a Model 70 tinkering day at the FoD on the 4/5th of April weather permitting of course!

the date works for me, but I obviously am wondering how that date sits with anyone who is kindly volunteering help/is up for a FoD tinkering weekend or such?  

(also now REV is insured and all that, I can go and change her taxation class do the MOT exemption and tax her!)

[Zelandeth]

5th I should be able to do, though we've got the dentist on the 4th so will be stuck dealing with that for most of the day (it being all the way up in Leicester doesn't help!).

Don't imagine you'll have too much trouble rounding up a few warm bodies to help get things done.

Something you really need to think about if you haven't already is to sort out somewhere at home for storage of at least a basic toolkit and some basic supplies you will need to keep on hand.  This is one of the headaches for you of an Invacar Vs something more conventional as keeping stuff in the car obviously isn't an option as there's no storage.  Having said that, converting the parcel shelf into a lockable compartment wouldn't be massively difficult.

I realise that's likely to require quite a bit of work on your part given the cramped quarters you live in so something to think about.  Likewise keeping a bit of room clear so that as and when you need to order parts in that you're able to receive them.

Speaking of parts - the headlights are straight out of the BMC parts bin, so replacement bowls or sealed beam units for the Mini or MGB should drop straight in.  Mine were advertised as being for an MGB.  Only thing I had to do was cut a notch in the bowl behind the assembly to accommodate the sidelight bulb as the original one was in a different place.

[Eyersey1234]

Will know a bit nearer the time whether I can make the 4th or 5th or not as it's my week of spare at work. 

[overrun]

22 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

keeping stuff in the car obviously isn't an option as there's no storage

There's actually a downside to these machines?!

[LightBulbFun]

47 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

5th I should be able to do, though we've got the dentist on the 4th so will be stuck dealing with that for most of the day (it being all the way up in Leicester doesn't help!).

ah typical LOL but good to know you can make the 5th at least!  any sort of help is very much appreciated!

47 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

Something you really need to think about if you haven't already is to sort out somewhere at home for storage of at least a basic toolkit and some basic supplies you will need to keep on hand.  This is one of the headaches for you of an Invacar Vs something more conventional as keeping stuff in the car obviously isn't an option as there's no storage.  Having said that, converting the parcel shelf into a lockable compartment wouldn't be massively difficult.

I realise that's likely to require quite a bit of work on your part given the cramped quarters you live in so something to think about.  Likewise keeping a bit of room clear so that as and when you need to order parts in that you're able to receive them.

yeah, I have an idea in place of where ill stash things (some of it will probably live with the lightbulbs in the ex living room!)

sadly the metrinch toolset I was eying up on ebay got pulled because the item was no longer available, despite the listing showing 10 available! so ill have to figure out what im going to do there

 

[plasticvandan]

dont really see why you have insured it now,plus if you started the policy to begin now that will have ramped the price up a bit as well. im with bikesure,they are very good for my motorcycles,but i would be hazy as to wether they know what it is,as three wheeler motorcycle suggests trike to me,ie registered as a motorcycle trike,not a three wheeler.Im also still very doubtful as to wether you can drive one on a car licence now either.regardless of how you might interpret weights and such,its still what it is and always was.

[LightBulbFun]

28 minutes ago, plasticvandan said:

dont really see why you have insured it now,plus if you started the policy to begin now that will have ramped the price up a bit as well. im with bikesure,they are very good for my motorcycles,but i would be hazy as to wether they know what it is,as three wheeler motorcycle suggests trike to me,ie registered as a motorcycle trike,not a three wheeler.Im also still very doubtful as to wether you can drive one on a car licence now either.regardless of how you might interpret weights and such,its still what it is and always was.

I did actually initially have it "set" to start a bit later in the month for that reason

but after all the hoop jumping etc it ended up starting right away, again a case of I didn't want to overcomplicate things!

as for "do they know what it is" at least 2 people over there have pictures of REV so they should!

the first person I spoke to on the car side of things, had never heard of an Invacar until I showed up, but he googled REV's registration and found some pictures of her

(and he had to put me on hold while he spoke to someone higher up about it, im guessing by higher up, he really means the one person who still remembers/knows what an Invacar is!)

he then asked me is it an AC Invacar? I then explained that AC and Invacar are 2 separate companies, but both made the Model 70 hence the common confusion

and then asked me is it steering wheel or handlebar controls, so I said handle bars, he said because of the handlebars it will have to be done as a Tricycle/motorcycle

and then I got sent off to their motorcycle part, where the lady asked me to email her a picture of the handle bars! and I also included a general shot of REV to be on the safe side!

these 2 pictures to be exact  

[egg]

Flux's terms re: cooling off period

Quote

If you cancel your policy within 14 days of receiving your policy information, we will retain £30 of the policy issue fee and the insurer will make a reasonable charge for the time you have been on cover. This may vary depending on the insurer. If you have any questions please call our customer service line for more information.

I'm of the camp of trying to get it home to the dead end... I know that's more cost (and I know that's further from the most knowledgable Zel)....but my Invacar is just 6 miles from me - and look how hard it's been for me to break out of my daily routine and get over there regularly. I'm sure everyone has an opinion though, I think your plan for April sounds good, but I won't be able to be there myself.